Clio Amphitheater looking ahead

The 'Platters' tribute band performs 'Only You' during the season's last concert at the Clio Amphitheater. Hollyn Johnson | Flint Journal

Even though the Clio Amphitheater is done with shows for summer, the Amphitheater Board of Directors and Tacoma Productions are not stopping to take a break. They have already begun reviewing this past summer and brainstorming how to improve next year.

Board members said they were pleased with their efforts this year, which included tribute shows like Bob Seger, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, The Bee Gees and The Blues Brothers for free, as well as the original act Persuasion.

“If the goal was to promote family entertainment in an alcohol-free environment, then I think we hit a home run,” said Clio Amphitheater Chair Gary Langdon.

Clio City Administrator Jack Abernathy thought it was a great season and enjoyed watching people enjoy themselves.

“If you stood and looked at the crowd, they were into it,” Abernathy said.

Others, like Otis Stout, felt that the economic ripple effect from the free shows was fantastic, whether it was people buying gas, eating or other ways of pumping dollars into the city.

“This is their entertainment for the summer,” Stout said. “They’re not going to Mackinac over the summer. They’re going to the Clio Amphitheater.”

The hot topic at the Sept. 16 board meeting for the amphitheater was fundraising, and how the board can better meet the needs of its budget.

Currently, the board has no donations or sponsors for the next season, but organizers expect that to change soon.

The first of the fundraising events is a Texas hold ’em poker event for Tacoma Productions, which is in charge of operations at the venue. It’s Oct. 7 through 10 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Legends Poker Place, 2546 S. Lapeer Rd., Metamora. There’s a $100 buy-in fee and participants must be at least 21.

The event will feature a Las Vegas-trained pit boss and card dealers. The venue is non-smoking and features a bar and a restaurant.

The board is also considering additional fundraisers in the future. Some suggestions included charging for one of the six free shows, a winter dinner or partnering with local businesses.

For the first time, the board decided it would give more people an opportunity to decide who they want to see perform. During Bands! Brews! Brats! amphitheater board provided attendants with a questionnaire asking what tributes residents would like to see next year. The top six were Bob Seger, Eagles, Jimmy Buffett, Journey,Queen and Johnny Cash.

Langdon said that although some of those surprised him, he understood why Seger won, because he’s a Michigan product.

“I’m a little surprised to see Johnny Cash at No. 6 because over the past two years, he’s kicked butt,” Langdon said.

But he thought the survey was a great way to gauge public opinion and called it food for thought.

“We stepped back and thought about the greater good,” he said.

There will be an appreciation dinner for all amphitheater volunteers at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 at Bethany Methodist Church 353 East Vienna Street, Clio, for all the volunteers.